The Armed Forces of Nigeria have been involved in a series of security operations to counter myriads of existing and emerging security challenges in different parts of the country.
Notable among these security challenges is the Boko Haram and Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents’ activities in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as well as the banditry and kidnapping in the northwestern part of the country such as in Kaduna State, Katsina State, Sokoto State and Zamfara.
There have also been cases of farmer/herders and communal clashes in Benue, Nasarawa State and Taraba, kidnapping and armed robbery in the southeastern part as well as the cases of crude oil theft, bunkering, militancy, kidnapping and cultism in the south-south and south-west region.
In response to this, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the various services, have launched different operations and exercises as well as deployed troops to all the affected states to contain these threats in the last couple of years.
Some of the DHQ led operations to include Operation Lafiya Dole fighting insurgency in the North East, Operation Hadarin Daji against banditry and kidnapping in North West, Operations Safe Haven, Whirl Stroke, Whirl Punch, Thunder Strike against farmer-herder/communal clashes, kidnapping and banditry in the North Central.
Others are the Operations Delta Safe and AWATSE to tackle economic sabotage such as crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and kidnapping, among other criminal activities in the South-South and South-West zones of the country.
During the year 2020, the military and other security agencies have had a lot to contend with in 2020 with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus globally known as COVID-19 coupled with the lockdown that accompanied the pandemic.
Source:Vanguard